Last month, we announced something that's been months in the making – LKQ Europe's strategic joint venture with SYNETIQ Ltd., creating LKQ SYNETIQ. 

Now that the dust has settled, I wanted to share the detail on how this partnership represents a key building block in our emerging, Europe-wide salvage strategy.

The Context We’re Leaning into 

Let me paint the picture of why this venture matters:

• Tightening regulations – EU Fit-for-55 and End-of-Life Vehicle directives are on the horizon
• Complex repairs – Modern vehicles (especially EVs and hybrids) demand specialized parts and expertise
• Sustainability pressures – Customers and insurers increasingly demand greener solutions
• OEM restrictions – Too many parts remain "captive" to dealer networks

By combining SYNETIQ's world-class dismantling expertise – they process 27,000 vehicles annually across four UK sites – with our unrivalled distribution network, we're creating a powerful answer to these challenges.

What This Means for our Customers 🔧

Starting with our UK & Ireland customers, LKQ SYNETIQ will create new ways to access and even wider range of parts:

✅ More choices: New aftermarket parts, certified remanufactured parts, and quality-assured recycled parts all via LKQ

✅ Breaking down barriers: Better access to OEM parts that have been locked away from the independent aftermarket

✅ EV & hybrid solutions: Sustainable options for today's most complex repairs

✅ Carbon footprint reduction: Help you and your customers to hit their sustainability goals while improving your margins

Building for Tomorrow 🌍

While we're launching in the UK & Ireland, this is just the first chapter of a much bigger story.

Our Salvage Leadership Channel will be led by: 

• Annick Jourdenais , our Senior Project Director for Salvage
• Magnus Tagesson, CEO of LKQ Atracco
• And Michael Hill from SYNETIQ's dismantling operations will help lead the LKQ SYNETIQ day today alongside Annick. 

Beyond Compliance 💡

What excites me most about this venture is that we're getting ahead of the regulatory landscape. We're offering more than alternatives by creating genuine choice. And we're showing how we can make sustainability profitable for everyone in the value chain.

The additional demand from LKQ's scale will channel fresh investment into the wider UK salvage sector, supporting and invigorating an industry that's crucial to automotive’s circular economy ambitions.

The Road Ahead 🚗

As I've written before, the aftermarket is experiencing its biggest disruption in decades. But partnerships like LKQ SYNETIQ prove that challenge can be transformed into opportunity. 

We're investing to keep our customers one step ahead, and we'll continue exploring opportunities to expand this model across Europe.

Our goal is to put sustainable, affordable mobility within reach of every workshop and bodyshop in Europe. 

How is your business preparing for the circular economy? What role do you see recycled and remanufactured parts playing in your future? I'd love to hear your perspectives in the comments below.